Marco Penge is ready now to experience the 'pinnacle of European golf'
Englishman looks certain to be one of leading rookie contenders for 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland
It’s only two rounds down and there are lots and lots to come over the next 12 months, yet it’s already clear to see that Marco Penge is going to be a serious contender to be a rookie on the European team for next year’s centenary edition of the Ryder Cup in Ireland.
Twelve months ago, the Englishman narrowly missed out on making Luke Donald’s side for a trophy defence at Bethpage Black in New York after landing two DP World Tour wins in the qualifying campaign and also finishing joint-second in the Genesis Scottish Open.
Though a tad disappointed that he didn’t get to make his debut in the biennial bout on that occasion, Penge admitted earlier this week that it was probably a blessing in disguise and, given the hostile environment the Europeans encountered on Long Island, he is probably right.
“When I didn't get selected, I said to my team that I probably wasn't ready for it,” confessed the 28-year-old, speaking at The Belfry before teeing up in the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo. “With the New York crowd and not playing much in America in front of the crowds there, yeah, probably could have come too soon. It was the right thing to happen. I think it's the best thing that happened for my career in general.”
It was refreshing to hear that and, make no mistake, no-one will be more delighted than Donald to see Penge come bursting out of the blocks in the first event in a new Ryder Cup qualifying campaign, which is off to a stuttering start due to weather issues in this week’s opening event in Sutton Coldfield.
On Friday afternoon, the Crawley man - shut your eyes when he is talking and you can easily think it’s Harry Kane - lit up a dreich couple of days by producing a moment of magic as he drove the green at the iconic tenth hole on the Brabazon Course and rolled in the eagle putt. Helped by that, he was eight under for his second round with four holes to go when play was halted for the day.
As so often happens when players return the following day to restart, Penge was no longer producing his fireworks. A bogey to finish at the par-4 ninth left him having to settle for a 65 when the man who already shares the course record after firing a 63 in last year’s event had a new mark in his sights. His opening two efforts, though, were still good enough to leave him in the halfway lead in the $3.5 million tournament by a shot on ten under.
“Yeah, it was a bit of a pretty typical me to have a roller-coaster sort of round of golf,” admitted Penge, smiling, afterwards as he sheltered from the rain. “Luckily this one was on the right side of par.” In truth, most of the rounds he’s played in the past few years have been ones in red figures. He also plays the game in a manner that people just love.
On this occasion, Donald picked Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra and Finland’s Oliver Lindell to get a close look at over the first 36 holes and that was probably because he’s not really had that opportunity before. He already knows what Penge is about and, though there is a lot of water to go under the bridge, don’t be surprised in the slightest if he’s on that team in County Limerick next September, when Donald, of course, will be bidding to create history by becoming the first captain on either side to mastermind three wins.
“It's the pinnacle of European golf. I'd love to get on the Ryder Cup team,” admitted Penge in that pre-event press conference on Wednesday. “I feel like I'm a better player than I was last year. I'm playing so much in America (having secured a PGA Tour card for this season), and I can tell when I come back to tournaments here and courses here that I can compare how I feel then to now, and I feel like I've come on a lot as a player. I just haven't quite proved that yet.
“But there's loads of time to qualify, and good golf will do the talking at the end of the day, and that's what I've got to get back to. Yeah, it's exciting to have something in the distance to push for.”
Another Englishman, Matt Wallace, has come close on a couple of occasions to making a European team. He’s one of the grittiest players on the DP World Tour, as evidenced by the way he dug deep, picking up five shots over the closing six holes in the second round, to avoid an early exit in the Midlands.
“Very proud, very proud,” admitted Wallace of making the cut on three under. “I I wasn't angry, but I was a little bit upset internally. I wasn't showing it much, which was nice. I've been working on that. But to be able to shift it and lighten things up and just think, okay, we just got that side of the draw. It happens in golf. And allowed myself to free up a little bit in that back nine.”
In a week that has tested everyone’s patience, the second round in the DP World Tour’s opening Back 9 Swing event wasn’t completed until around 4pm on Saturday. The third round got underway 30 minutes later and, weather permitting, the plan is still to complete the 48th edition of the tournament on Sunday.
When play restarts at 7am on Sunday, Penge will share the lead with 2023 winner Daniel Hillier on 11 -under - one ahead of Tom McKibbin, another potential Ryder Cup contender. Out of nine Scots to start, just two - Ewen Ferguson and David Law - are still standing in the Midlands.
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